HYDERABAD: A play was staged to highlight the struggle of the icon of hari struggle Sufi Shah Inayat in the Sindh Museum here the other day.

Inayat was killed on Jan 7,1718, in Thatta under orders of then governor Azam Khan after trapping him.

The play Sufi Inayat in Mughal’s court — staged by Azad Sufi Forum and penned by Aslam Azad — shed light on the life of Shah Inayat Shaheed who gave popular slogan: Zameen Allah ji aahey, jeko khairay so khaye. A court presided over by then Thatta governor Nawab Azam Khan was created on the stage that handed down capital punishment to Inayat.

Anis Memon, Mohammad Ali Maikash, Qayyum Quraishi, Saleem Shah and others played different roles in the play directed by Akram Waraich. Ms Sohni Paras briefly spoke about the life of Sufi Shah Inayat. The court proceedings were enacted to show how the trial was held in the governor’s court.

It focused on the background of the struggle and its influence on the then rulers and landlords. It showed how Shah Inayat was called to Thatta from Jhoke Sharif and presented in the court of Azam Khan which announced the death sentence for him.

Aslam Azad said Shah Inayat held an importance place in history. The Sufi fought for the haris and the oppressed, and against jagirdars and exploitative forces.

He said a proper research was conducted before presenting this play.

Published in Dawn, March 11th, 2016